Ovarian Cycle Stages Modulate Alzheimer-Related Cognitive and Brain Network Alterations in Female Mice

eNeuro. 2018 Dec 14;5(6):ENEURO.0132-17.2018. doi: 10.1523/ENEURO.0132-17.2018. eCollection 2018 Nov-Dec.

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) begins several decades before the onset of clinical symptoms, at a time when women may still undergo reproductive cycling. Whether ovarian functions alter substrates of AD pathogenesis is unknown. Here we show that ovarian cycle stages significantly modulate AD-related alterations in neural network patterns, cognitive impairments, and pathogenic protein production in the hAPP-J20 mouse model of AD. Female hAPP mice spent more time in estrogen-dominant cycle stages and these ovarian stages worsened AD-related network dysfunction and cognitive impairments. In contrast, progesterone-dominant stages and gonadectomy attenuated these AD-related deficits. Further studies revealed a direct role for estradiol in stimulating neural network excitability and susceptibility to seizures in hAPP mice and increasing amyloid beta levels. Understanding dynamic effects of the ovarian cycle on the female nervous system in disease, including AD, is of critical importance and may differ from effects on a healthy brain. The pattern of ovarian cycle effects on disease-related networks, cognition, and pathogenic protein expression may be relevant to young women at risk for AD.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; estrogen; hormones; mice; network; sex.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / complications*
  • Alzheimer Disease / genetics
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / genetics
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Brain Waves / physiology*
  • Castration
  • Cognition Disorders* / etiology
  • Cognition Disorders* / pathology
  • Cognition Disorders* / physiopathology
  • Convulsants / toxicity
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Estradiol / metabolism
  • Exploratory Behavior / physiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Menstrual Cycle / genetics
  • Menstrual Cycle / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Pentylenetetrazole / toxicity
  • Progesterone / metabolism
  • Seizures / chemically induced
  • Seizures / physiopathology

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor
  • Convulsants
  • Progesterone
  • Estradiol
  • Pentylenetetrazole